Maine Sire Stakes at Cumberland Friday

CUMBERLAND, ME – The Maine-sired harness racing trotters return to Cumberland on Friday (June 30) for two $14,000-plus divisions of the Maine Sire Stakes for 3-year-olds, with the Pine Tree State’s sophomore pacing colts making their first visit to the fairgrounds this season on Saturday (July 1).

The action begins early in a $14,502 Maine Sire Stakes non-wagering race scheduled for 2:00 pm, which hosts a compact group of 3-year-old trotting fillies.  Leaving from post two is last week’s victor, She’salilbitmouthy (Victor Blue Chip), driven by Aaron Hall.  She’salilbitmouthy lets her performance do the talking as she overpowered the division last week and will be the one to watch in this event.  Trained by Mike Cushing, she is now owned by Mona Dodd, who will be looking for her filly to repeat last week’s effort.

The regular card kicks into high gear at 3:15 pm with the $14,641 in the Maine Sire Stakes 3-year-old colt and gelding trot.  Oddsmakers have given the nod to Pembroke Traveler (Pembroke Slugger, 9-5, Heath Campbell, post 4) over last week’s winner Outlawofthevalley (Pembroke Slugger, 7-2, Kevin Switzer Jr., post 6).  Despite a miscue before the wings folded, and spotting the field a considerable margin, the latter took command before the opening panel and coasted home a 1-1/2 length winner.

Owned by Leighton Property and trained by Marc Tardif, he will look to repeat, despite the outside post position.  Pembroke Traveler was fast-closing third last week, and should improve with every start.  He is trained by Valerie Gronden for owner Bill Varney and trotted the fastest last quarter of the bunch in his previous outing.

The first card of the weekend on Friday (June 30) has a packed 13-race program.  The overnight featured $6,000 top trot is slated as race 9 and features a full field of 8, and includes a 20 cent Superfecta.  The early morning line favorite is Yes (5-2, Nick Graffam, post 2) who took a seasonal mark of 1:57 at Yonkers earlier this year.

Saturday’s (July 1) program carries 11 races, plus two early $15,209 non-wagering Maine Sire Stakes events for 3-year-old pacing colts and geldings.  In addition, the Maine Amateur Driving Club is slated as race 9.  As always, this series is sponsored by the Blue Seal Feed Stores of Windham and North Yarmouth, Maine.

The wagering menu always includes a 50-cent trifecta in every race, as well as the standard collection of lucrative wagers with low 16% takeouts scattered throughout the card.

Live harness racing continues at Cumberland throughout the Spring and early Summer months with regular racing on Friday and Saturday each weekend.  First post is slated for 3:15 pm (EDT) during the extended pari-mutuel meeting, which runs through August 5.

For complete race entries, click here.

by Chris Tully, for First Tracks Cumberland